Safety vest



Aug. 7, 1962 T. A. PATTERSON, JR

SAFETY VEST Filed Jan. 14, 1960 INVENTOR.

7/70/4/15 A, PATTERSO/Z J/P.

3,047,875 SAFETY VEST Thomas A. Patterson, Jr., Levittown, N.J., assignor to Industrial Products Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Jan. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 2,421 2 Claims. (Cl. 2--1) This invention relates generally to safety apparel, and is especially concerned with a highly improved vest for use by workmen exposed to traffic hazards and the like.

While the garment of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for the use of industrial workers, and will be illustrated and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the device of the invention may be employed in many varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a safety vest which is highly effective in visually calling attention to the wearer, having both the entire front and the entire back of the wearer covered by the garment, with no gaps or openings in the front or back of the garment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety vest which is extremely simple to put on or apply to the person of the wearer, being substantially foolproof in this respect, and which may be quickly and easily removed, as desired, but which will not inadvertently open or become dislodged even under strenuous Working conditions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a safety vest which is neat and attractive in appearance, and extremely comfortable in use, so that its employment is welcomed by workmen.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a safety vest having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is extremely simple in construction, capable of being manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost, and which is entirely reliable and highly durable even under extreme conditions of use.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing a vest of the present invention in inoperative or non-use condition;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view showing a vest constructed in accordance with the teachings herein as being Worn, the wearer being show in dot-and-dash outline; and

'FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view showing the vest of the instant invention in its operative or use condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, the vest is there generally designated 10, and includes an integral or onepiece sheet 111 of flexible material, such as plastic sheeting 3,047,875 Patented Aug. 7, 1 962 or fabric. In practice, the sheet .10 is advantageously of a luminescent or radiant material, such as plastic coated fabric or the like.

The sheet 11 may be of elongate, and specifically generally rectangular configuration, having a pair of longitudinally extending side edges 12, and a pair of transverse end edges 13, each extending between an adjacent pair of ends of the side edges. In practice it has been found advantageous to form the end edges 13 of selvage, and provide a reinforcing hem 14 along and coextensive with each longitudinal or side edge '12.

Medially between the ends 13, and centrally of the generally rectangular sheet 1 1, there is formed therein a through opening 15, which may be slightly elongate longitudinally of the sheet. The side edges 12 of the sheet 11 are each cut away or formed, medially between their ends to define a smoothly curved recess 16. Thus, the recesses or cut outs 16 are located on opposite sides of and adjacent to the opening 15, serving to narrow the sheet regions 17 between the opening and side edges of the sheet.

Extending from each side edge 12, adjacent to opposite end edges 13, are a pair of cooperable fastening elements 19 and '20. Each of the elements 19 may consist of a loop or looped strap of elastic anchored at one end to the hem 14, as by stitching or other suitable means, and extending laterally outward from the sheet. Adjacent to the opposite end edge 13 of the sheet 11, the fastener elements Ztl may each comprise an elongate flexible strap or tie member, for engagement through the loop 19 on the same side of the sheet 11, as will appear presently.

As seen in "FIGURES 2, and 3, the sheet 11 has been placed over the head of a wearer, with the narrowed sheet regions 17 respectively extending over the wearers shoulders to define shoulder straps, and the end sheet regions 22 and 23 respectively covering and in facing engagement with the back and front of the wearers torso.

In this condition, the straps 20 have each been inserted through the respective loop 19 of the same sheet edge 12, firmly drawn forward therefrom and tied together in front of the front covering sheet end region 23. Of course, other means of securing the sheet in position may be employed; and, the particular means illustrated may be employed otherwise if desired. Indeed, the symmetry of the garment, and the many ways in which the fastening means 19 and 20 may be secured, enables the garment to be applied to the person of the wearer quickly and easily, without regard to differentiating between front and back, so as to be substantially foolproof in use. Further, the fastening or tie means 19 and 20 permits the garment to be open only on the sides of the wearer, and to be open as much as required to accommodate persons of all sizes. However, this great versatility does not detract from the safety provided, as the entire front and back of the wearer are always completely covered as a signal to on-corning traffic, and the like.

It will be observed that the garment of the instant invention does not in any way restrict body movement or activity, even the strap regions 17 being narrowed for greater comfort and to facilitate raising the arms.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety vest comprising a single flat integral sheet of flexible luminescent material, said sheet being of elongate generally rectangular configuration, there being a central through opening for receiving a wearers head, the sheet region on opposite sides of said opening defining shoulder straps for extension over respective shoulders of the wearer, the longitudinal edges of said sheet each being smoothly arcuately cut out adjacent to said opening to narrow said shoulder straps, the opposite end regions of said sheet serving to respectively cover the front and back of a wearer, and cooperating fastener means extending from each side of said sheet adjacent to opposite ends thereof for releasably securing said end regions in position covering the front and back of the wearer, said fastener means comprising an elastic loop on each side edge adjacent to one end of said sheet, and a strap extending from each side edge adjacent to the other end of said sheet for respective engagement through the adjacent loop.

"2. A safety vest according to claim 1, wherein said sheet is substantially symmetrical about both longitudinal and lateral center lines, for complete reversibility in use front to back and inside to outside.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,923,001 Haga Aug. 15, 1933 2,342,005 Mittag Feb. 15, 1944 2,437,223 Dutrow Mar. 2, 1948 2,450,085 Gantner Sept. 28, 1948 2,696,617 Worcester Dec. 14, 1954 2,701,368 Swartz Feb. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 71,453 Switzerland Jan. 3, 1916 72,273 Switzerland Apr. 17, 1916 886,066 France June 21, 1943 

